Disclaimer: No infringement intended... I don't own them... no profit made... you know the drill. All bow down to Joss the Evil God. He gets the kudos, the blame, and ALL THE MONEY. *grin*
Timeline: Season Two -- I rewrote "Innocence".
Spoilers: "Surpise"/"Innocence"
Synopsis: What if Angel's curse hadn't held the famed "no complete contentment" rider? What would the moments and days after Buffy and Angel... ehem... got pelvic... have been like?
Distribution: TAKE IT! Just please, I beg you, let me know! :)
Author's Notes: A lot of the scenes are blatantly ripped off from "Innocence"... if you recognize them, I didn't write them! :) I meant, originally, for this to be a series, but, my attention span being that of... well, something with a short attention span, I've pretty much abandoned it. This was my second attempt at a fic, so be gentle!
Feedback: But, of course! All megalomaniacs love feedback! (As long as it's positive...) ;)
Rating: Er... um... PG-13? I don't think there's anything too racy, here

Buffy sighed softly in her sleep. Angel lay, propped up on his hand, gazing tenderly at his sleeping lover.

His lover... he couldn't believe he was thinking those words together, after so long believing he never would again... and to think that his lover was this wonderful woman, this incredible person... Buffy had given him a gift greater than she imagined, tonight. He could almost laugh at his long-time hesitation to touch her... The fear, the rush of near-death that they had experienced had pushed their passion to the breaking point... all his discretion went straight out the window. Since the beginning, he had avoided being so close to her, fearing the worst. Instead, what he had gotten was the best.

He lay back, folding his hands behind his head on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. He recalled the sound of her whispering his name... the soft warmth of her lips, her sweat pooling between their bodies... gods, how he loved her. He turned his head to look at her again. A little snore escaped her lips, and he couldn't help but chuckle. Incredible... incredible... his heart soared. Which was an odd thing in itself, considering his heart didn't even beat..

He wanted to laugh hysterically... to jump out of bed and dance a jig the likes of which he hadn't done since he was a mortal... he actually, physically, felt alive. He felt warm with her residual body heat, and energized from the exertion of his own body. He almost believed, for a moment, that Buffy had brought him back to life.

But hadn't she? Maybe not in the physical sense, but certainly in the metaphysical... when, in 250 years of being a vampire, and close to 100 having a soul, had he ever felt more happy, more safe, more loved? Or happy, safe and loved at all?

He rose, pulling on his slacks, and moved to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator door, he considered the bags of blood hanging there. He was hungry... famished, actually. He chuckled softly and grabbed a bag...the act of drinking blood was ironic, considering his feelings at the moment... his feelings of being alive...

**

Buffy woke slowly, reaching her arm across the bed. She blinked her eyes open when she realized Angel wasn't there. A brief moment of panic, and then she heard him moving about the living room. She smiled, stretching her tired body. The days ahead would be challenging, to say the least. There was Drusilla and Spike to worry about again, not to mention the horror that was the Judge. She sat up and rotated her shoulder, a reminder of what they had been through last night.

Last night... Buffy closed her eyes and let the images... the good ones... pass through her mind... everything would be different now, she could feel it. For now, she didn't have to be afraid...The Judge and the vampires would be defeated... she and Angel could face anything that came, together. She luxuriated in a rare moment of peace and joy.

She got up and put on the shirt Angel had given her the night before. She poked her head around the corner to spy him sitting, feet propped up on a rollaway desk, staring out into space. She smiled again to herself. He was so beautiful... a half-smile played across his lips... he sighed deeply, happily. She felt her heart surge full of love for him... all the trouble behind... all the trouble ahead... they didn't matter at all, right now. She came fully around the corner, standing in the middle of the room, saying nothing, only cocking her head to one side...

It took him a moment to leave his reverie, but Angel did turn to look at her. He flashed her the biggest smile she thought she had ever seen on his face. She had to smile broadly in return...

"Hey." He said, softly, "How does it feel to be 17?"

She came over and sat sideways on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. There was a new closeness between them, now... a feeling of oneness she had never experienced, and if he had, he didn't remember...he put his arms around her and held her close.

"Much like 16... only warmer." She lay a soft kiss on his lips. He loved that warmth... how moist and soft her kiss always was... after a long few moments, he pulled away, to look deeply into her soft, green eyes... he was overwhelmed, and speechless. She returned his intense gaze, smiling...

"I love you", they said simultaneously, and laughed.

No words passed between them again for several hours.

**

Even on the trip to the library that evening, Buffy hardly had anything on her mind besides the feeling of Angel's hand in hers as they walked. She knew there were things they needed to be concerned about, things they were very shortly going to have to face, but she didn't let the thoughts get any more detailed than that.

Angel caught her looking at him and tugged her to his side. He was worried, too, but the day of bliss they'd shared made him think there was no blue skinned, indestructible creature in all the dimensions that he couldn't face. He kissed the tip of her nose, making her giggle.

They entered the library to find a room full of glum, worried faces.

"Hey, all!" Buffy cried, cheerfully.

Willow jumped up. "Buffy!" She cried.

Xander piped in, "We were just going to rescue you!"

Willow shot a nasty look at Giles. "Well, some of us were..."

Giles looked sheepish. "Well, I... I would have."

"Good to see you all, too." Buffy said, "Nice to know you all have so much confidence in my abilities..." She took a seat at the table, Angel standing behind her. He casually placed his hand on her shoulder. Willow was a little surprised, sensing something new between them, but she couldn't quite figure what.

"Ohhhh..." She whispered to herself, getting some clue. Buffy gave her a Shut Up! look.

Cordelia slid off the checkout counter. "So, what happened?"

"The Judge, is he..." Giles asked, not sure if he wanted to hear anything but, 'completely harmless'. However, considering Angel was standing before them , he had to assume something had happened to the piece of the Judge they'd waylaid

Buffy frowned. "No assembly required. He's active."

A collective shocked gasp rose amongst those gathered.

Giles whispered, "Oh, damn it..." and compulsively removed his glasses.

"He nearly killed us. Angel got us out." She reached up to touch his hand.

"Why didn't you call? We, we, we thought..." Giles stammered.

"Well, we... we had to hide. Uh, we got stuck in the sewer tunnels..." her mind raced as she tried to avoid telling the assembly where they had spent the night... she suppressed a smile... and what they were doing there.

"We have to stop the Judge." Giles went on, oblivious.

"I know." Buffy replied, thinking .

"What can you tell us?" Giles probed.

"Not much. I, um... I kicked him. It was just like a sudden fever. If he'd got his hands on me..."

"In time, he won't need to. The stronger he gets, he'll be able to reduce us to charcoal with a look."

Buffy nodded in agreement. "Also? Not the prettiest man in town." Angel chuckled, causing Xander to snap his head around and knit his brow.

"I'm glad you think this is funny, Mr. I'm-Gonna-Live-Forever..."

Angel glared at him without response.

Giles disregarded the exchange. "I better continue researching, must look for a weak spot."

Jenny spoke for the first time, hoping her true feelings didn't show, "I'll... uh... go on the 'Net and search for anything on the Judge." She wanted to keep an eye on things, considering her ploy to get rid of Angel had failed miserably. She chewed the inside of her lip nervously.

Angel noticed, and wondered about it.

"Thank you." said Giles

Xander piped back in. "I'd like to help, too!"

Cordelia rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, you might find something useful if it's in an 'I Can Read' Book."

Xander shot her a look to kill as they climbed the steps into the stacks.

**

It was a long evening, and Buffy and Angel excused themselves early. Both seemed tired, but uncomfortable cheery, so far as the others were concerned. They simultaneously looked up from their reading as the two left, holding hands and chatting happily.

"'Kay... I'm wigged. Who gave THOSE two happy pills? Or impervious to the Judge pills... and hey! Why didn't they give us any?" Xander half quipped, half snarled.

Willow glared at him.

"Perhaps Angel and Buffy have the right attitude." Giles added. "After all, wearing long faces certainly won't make it any easier for us to defeat the Judge."

Everyone turned to give him a look.

"Well... it *was* her birthday... and it *wasn't* ruined by Angel having to leave..."

"Ah, a half-full scenario!" Willow piped in.

"Indeed." Giles agreed.

"Oh, YEAH." Cordelia snapped, "Let's all just wander off into happy lover's land or whatever, and just not WORRY about the world coming to an end! How about NO? I, for one, am going to be WAY upset if I die because of them being all...slobbery or whatever."

"Buffy will be back. She just needed to get some sleep before any of this went down." Willow said, trying to get them to stop talking about it...

Xander slammed his book shut. "Nada." He announced. Cordelia closed her book and followed him up the stairs to the stacks. Giles shook his head sadly.

No telling how much longer Buffy and Angel would have together if they didn't find any information on how to stop him. He looked up to the door where they'd just exited. They were at least lucky to have each other...

**

Buffy and Angel floated their way to Buffy's house... when they arrived, Buffy gave her door a long look. They took a few steps up the walk, but then she grabbed his hand and pulled him away...moving in the opposite direction. She wasn't ready for this to end, yet.

He stopped her, and turned her to him.

"Hey," he said, gently taking her face between his large hands, "You need to get some sleep."

Buffy pouted. "I can sleep at your house."

He gave her a mock stern look. "You know if we go to my house, not much sleeping will get done. I'm tired, too, you know."

She put her arms around his waist, pulled him close, and burrowed her face into his chest. "Mmmm... and why would that possibly be?" came her muffled comment.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, kissing the top of her forehead. "Any number of reasons... Judge... Slayer..."

Buffy raised her eyes without pulling away. "Slayer? Who, me?"

Angel laughed and pulled away, holding her at arms length.

"We've got to get serious, Buffy."

Buffy pouted, harder this time. "I am serious. Serious about not wanting to think about any of that other stuff."

"You mean the Judge? The world ending? That 'other stuff'?"

Buffy play punched him... he half pretended to be thrown off balance.

"Fine, then. I'll go home and sleep." She turned to stomp off, but he pulled her back, hugging her tightly once again. He released his grip only to kiss her passionately.

"I love you, Buffy." he said, and walked away, slowly backward, not wanting to take his eyes off her. "Please try to get some sleep. You need it."

She waved forlornly. "Yeah, bye... Angel!"

She ran after him and grabbed him again. She kissed him soundly.

"I love you too. Please be careful."

She turned and ran into the house.

He watched her go, smiling. He was torn between this insane happiness and an equally insane terror of what was to come. What were they going to do? He turned toward home, missing her already.

**

Jenny went to see her uncle at his hotel room. They argued, for the first time in her life. She felt like a heel, lying to her friends, and to the person that she loved...

Enyos was furious. "You know what it is, this thing vengeance?"

"Uncle, I have served you. I have been faithful. I need to know."

"To the modern man, vengeance is a verb, an idea. Payback. On thing for another. Like commerce. Not with us. Vengeance is a living thing. It passes through generations. It commands. It kills."

"You told me to watch Angel. You told me to keep him from the Slayer. I tried. but there are other factors. There are terrible things happening here that we cannot control!"

"We control nothing. We are not wizards, Janna. We merely play our part."

"Angel could be of help to us. I mean, he may be the only chance we have to stop the Judge."

Enyos frowned.

"You are to do your duty, and nothing else. You must not allow Angel to know a moment's happiness... especially with that girl."

He turned his back to her.

"Uncle, this is insanity! People are going to die!"

"Yes. It is not justice we serve. It is vengeance."

Jenny snorted, grabbing her coat and bag. "You are a fool. We are all fools." She slammed the door behind her.

**

Angel entered the school the next evening through the side door behind the gym. The scene he came upon looked decidedly tense and unpleasant, with Willow right in Xander's face, angrily waggling her finger at him.

"Let's get this straight. I don't understand it, I don't wanna understand it, you have gross emotional problems, and things are not okay between us. But what's happening right now is more important than that."

Xander looked shocked and ashamed. "Okay," he said.

Willow dropped her arm, resigned. "What about the Judge? Where do we stand?"

"On a pile of really boring books that say exactly the same thing."

"Lemmee guess: 'no weapon forged'..."

"It took an army..."

"Yeah, where's an army when you need one?" Willow looked over at Xander, "What?"

His eyes were distant, thoughtful. "Whoa. WHOA! I think I'm having a thought. Yeah yeah yeah, that's a thought! Now I'm having a plan!"

Angel, seeing the tense part of the moment was over, emerged from the shadows to join them.

"Willow. Xander." He greeted them.

They turned to looked at him, both obviously startled.

"Angel." Xander said.

"Where's Buffy?" asked Willow.

"I'm sure she's on her way. What's up?"

"Listen, I think I have a plan." Xander said, the pride apparent in his voice.

Angel looked at him skeptically. "I can't wait to hear this..." he said, and followed them into the library.

**

Buffy felt a little bit better, but not nearly as rested as she knew she needed to be. She was running on pure joy and fear -- positive and negative adrenaline. She strolled easily up to the school, excited about seeing Angel, nervous about the upcoming fight with the Judge. She was so wrapped up in her paradoxical reverie, she didn't hear Jenny coming up behind her.

"Buffy." Jenny said.

Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin. She was too tired for this.

"God, don't do that!" She snapped at Jenny -- more angry at herself for letting her guard down than anything else.

"Sorry." Jenny said absently, "Buffy, we need to talk." Her face was deadly serious.

"Did you find out anything about the Judge?"

"No... no. There's something else I need to tell you."

"Something more important than impending doom? I doubt it." Buffy turned to walk away, but Jenny put her hand on her shoulder and spun her back around.

"Buffy, this is serious. It's about Angel."

That got Buffy's attention.

"What about Angel?" She asked suspiciously, her hackles immediately up.

"I..." Jenny wasn't so sure what to say, now, "I think that there are things you need to know about him. About his past... I mean..."

"I know about his past..." Buffy said, her voice small.

"No... I mean... there are other things..."

"WHAT?! Buffy snapped, obviously becoming fearful. "What is it, is he in trouble? Did something happen to him?"

"Well, um, no, not exactly. Yet..."

Buffy put both hands on Jenny's shoulders and shook her. Jenny felt her teeth rattle. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all.

"Jenny, please! Where is he? What's wrong with Angel?"

Jenny was dumbstruck. She knew it was too late now to go back, but she didn't know how to move forward, either. Buffy had to know about the Kalderash curse... all of it.

"He's in side, I think... but that's..."

Buffy was already gone -- tearing up the sidewalk leading to the dark school.

"Great." Jenny said, and slowly followed.

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